Here’s a thought that’s been flying around my mind for a long time. Starting in 1999 with Slizer, which new constraction pieces introduced each year are the most important? It depends on their usability and versatility. General Technic connectors like pins and axles don’t count. I’ve picked one (sometimes two, when others have suggested another important one) piece from each year, feel free to discuss and add your own thoughts.
1999
This one’s a no-brainer, I don’t think I need to elaborate why I chose this. It’s a super versatile connector with many different uses, and one of the few constraction pieces to still be kicking around today - with a variety of mold updates and stability improvements, it looks quite different today but still works the same way.
2000
I found it more difficult to pick a part for 2000. Most new pieces introduced for the Roboriders aren’t super useful outside of the theme. I decided to go with this Technic block, used as a head on some Roboriders. I’m not sure if this fully counts as a constraction piece - several Technic sets from this year also use it, and I don’t know which theme it was first designed for - but the aesthetic fits. It’s a nice decoration piece that found a few uses after its introduction, retiring in 2007.
2001
2001 being the introduction of Bionicle brought a slew of new pieces, I picked the Toa Mata foot. It was used often throughout various Bionicle figures. Most of the time it’s just a foot (and it’s a good foot), but there’s other creative uses for this part too, e.g. on a torso. It got a mold update in 2008 (receiving the more fragile socket design) and made its last appearances in some of the first Hero Factory sets from 2010.
2002
This one was easy too, the Bohrok eye! This is one of the few originally-Bionicle pieces to find a much wider use outside of Bionicle, it’s used as a decoration element throughout various Lego themes and sets. It’s still being produced and appears often.
2003
The Rahkshi from 2003 were the first Bionicle figures with articulated knees, and they’ve paved the way for future Bonks to get more and more articulation as time progressed. That’s why I picked the Rahkshi shin as this year’s most important part. It allows to build legs and arms with knee and elbow articulation easily, and was used on many figures. Last appearance was also in the first Hero Factory sets of 2010.
2004
Another easy pick, a versatile piece with countless uses, though primarily as thighs or upper arms for figures. It got the fragile sockets in 2008 and made its last appearance on a Ninjago dragon in 2012.
2005
Let’s take last year’s part and elongate it! Another versatile and useful connector that everyone knows, it made its last appearance in the same dragon set from 2012.
The Hordika neck is probably even more well-known. As the name implies, it was originally designed for the heads of the Toa Hordika, but quickly spread to other uses simply because it’s a very useful connector. It’s still in production. Thanks @Wekua for reminding me of this one.
2006
This year introduced many new pieces with the new building system of the Piraka and Inika. I decided to go with the Zamor spheres: they’re really simple parts (basically just solid plastic marbles) but they’ve made many appearances in various sets. Still in production today!
It’s fun to note that the original 2006 Zamor launcher and its ammo storage were probably two of the G1-specific parts that stayed in production the longest, being included with the Mindstorms EV3 set that was made up until around 2020.
The Inika torso is another notable piece. Not much to say about it, it’s a nice upper torso that works well on many figures (and was used accordingly). As @Hawkflight mentioned, this one is really recognizable as a constraction element, whereas the Zamors aren’t if you don’t know what they are.
2007
For 2007, the Mahri breathing tubes are a strong candidate (thanks @TotalMaddness for the suggestion!). They’re a simple decoration piece with many uses that’s still being made today, even getting a shorter version at a later point.
As @Huemus suggested, the Barraki eye should be noted as well. At first, I didn’t even think of this one, since it appears so frequently outside of Constraction, I think it can be considered more of a system piece by now.
2008
Love it or hate it, 2008 was the year that brought us the big simplification of small figures like the Matoran. 2 types of torsos and various one-piece pre-bent limbs were introduced, each being limited in its reusability. I decided for the 90 degree bent limb since it made the most appearances, and I also think it’s the most versatile out of the bunch.
Here’s one I just remembered, the Mistika wing! It has made many appearances outside of Bionicle, often as a tail wing/fin for smaller planes or helicopters. It is still being made and appears every now and then.
2009
For 2009, I think the Glatorian hand is a good pick. I don’t even really know what to say about this, it’s just a cool piece! There was a mold update in 2011 giving it a stronger socket and 4 fingers, and it was used up until 2018, last appearing in those Star Wars constraction figs.
I completely forgot about the Glatorian neck, thanks @Racie02 for the reminder! Another useful connector that’s notable for still being made today.
And now, it’s your turn to continue!
These were my thoughts up until the end of Bionicle G1. For the 2010 Hero Factory sets and, most importantly, CCBS from 2011 onwards, I’d love the opinion of someone who’s experienced with the parts - I’ve barely used CCBS at all since I just don’t have many pieces.
@TheTDChronicler made a nice list further down with parts that seem like good choices.
So, what do you think? Which years do you agree with, for which would you suggest a different part? Tell me, I’d love to know!
